One of Spain’s most international producers, Juan Belmonte’s official music career started by the hand of Michael Jackson when, after winning an international dj contest, was selected to produce and mix the official History Megamix for the late King of Pop.
His next job was as arranger and producer for two of the tracks of the breakthrough multiplatinum album “A Medio Vivir” for Ricky Martin. This was followed by several underground house music hits and then by his first major success with the multi-million selling album, “Palabra de Mujer”, for Mónica Naranjo, for whom he played, produced and arranged four songs, now classics for the latin & Spanish audiences.
For several years, Juan combined producing dance music with productions for major latin, Spanish and American artists using several aliases, such as Pumpin’ Dolls, a name that made him a successful career not only in Spain but worldwide. Pumpin’ Dolls duo topped #1 on Billboard USA three separate times with the hit remix singles, “Strong Enough” (Cher), “Maria Maria” (Santana), and “Unpretty” (TLC) — each of them Grammy Award winners for best single. They had also several #1 and top 10’s on countries all over the world.
Kylie Minogue, Rashaan Patterson, Mike Oldfield, Christopher Cross, Whitney Houston, Matt Bianco, Amanda Lear, A-Ha, Emilia, Shakira, Malú, Shalim, Miami Sound Machine and Blue are just some of the artists that quickly turned to Pumpin’ Dolls for a fresh take on their songs. In 2005, after seven feverish years of non-stop work with more than 30 #1 chart hits and four albums under his belt, Pumpin’ Dolls was dissolved and Juan resumed his career as a music producer.
After several years producing albums and songs for Mónica Naranjo, Manolo Tena and other artists, as well as two albums of his own, Juan took a three year hiatus. He then wrote his first novel, “Ayer” (Yesterday), released in Spanish by Amazon stores worldwide on July 2015.
In 2012 Juan got back in the music business and formed his own record label, Juan Belmonte Music, home among others of the indie label The Dance Hut, focused on nurturing new talents around the world. In 2016, Juan Belmonte releases his third album, Fabulosa (10th Anniversary Edition), celebrating the 10th anniversary of its first release as a solo artist. That same year Benjamin Koll released his first single, “I’ll Be Good”, and a new chapter began. Juan Belmonte said goodbye with “Antheus”, released on December 2018.
“Antheus” is Juan Belmonte’s third and final album, a surrealist, futuristic, exquisite and dreamlike journey that includes four songs inspired by “Ayer (Yesterday)” his first novel and four others inspired by the second, soon to be published. A delight for the senses, as they wander between new age and classical music, with futuristic and retro touches that make the listening a sentimental journey, emotional, at times dramatic, and culminating in “So This Is Goodbye”, one of his most complex and fascinating pieces ever.
